How is the rent paid to me?
Rent is paid by BACS, which is a payment direct from our bank account to your bank account.
How often is rent paid?
Rent is paid monthly in advance.
How long is the agreement?
The agreement will be for a period of three years.
Do you charge commission?
Unlike estate agents, London Strategic Housing PSL does not charge the landlord commission.
Can I terminate my lease?
Once a three year lease agreement has been signed and sealed you will not be able to terminate the lease.
What are the legal obligations?
The lease you sign will detail all your legal obligations; it is important that you read the lease fully and ask us to clarify any aspects about which you are unsure before signing the agreement.
Am I eligible for grants?
Some local authorities are able to offer financial assistance to owners of properties which require work to be carried out.
In which boroughs do you require properties?
We require properties in Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington & Chelsea, Newham and Southwark.
What type of properties will we rent?
We are looking for houses and flats. We do not take flats if they are located over shops. We may not take flats in certain areas if the borough does not wish us to; for example, if an area is due to be redeveloped soon.
What do I need to do before I rent to you?
See our property standards
Which safety certificates do I need to supply?
You need to supply a CP12 for the gas installation and appliances (carried out by a
GAS SAFE registered gas engineer) and an NICEIC electrical certificate (carried out by an NICEIC registered engineer). Both certificates must be clear and show that no works are required. Certificates should be no older than two months at the start of the lease agreement.
Will I need to provide an Energy Performance Certificate?
Since October 2008, whenever a building is rented out, it must have a certificate showing its energy efficiency grade by law. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is valid for 10 years and provides A to G ratings for the building with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least. A new tenant will not be able to move into the property unless it has an EPC.
Do I need to provide furniture?
This will depend on the borough and scheme. The Property Acquisitions Officer will provide you with details when they inspect your property.
Can I inspect the property during the agreement?
You are entitled to visit your property twice in a year. However you will need to contact our housing management department first giving the tenant seven days’ prior notice of your intention to visit. We will then contact the tenant to arrange access to the property.
When is my property handed back to me?
If you sign a three-year lease, you are actually signing a lease for between two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half years. If, between two-and-a-half years and three years, the tenant moves out, the property will be handed back to you. If we have all documentation at the three-year point for your lease renewal, and the tenant is still living at the property, the lease will be renewed. If, after three years, we do not have your lease renewal documents and the tenant moves out, we will hand the property back to you.
In what condition do I get my property back?
London Strategic Housing PSL manages the property during the term of the lease and deals with any disrepair caused by our tenant. At the end of the lease, the property will be handed back to you, and compensation agreed between us for any damage caused by our tenant. We do not redecorate or refurnish at the end of the lease.
Will my lease be renewed at the end of the term?
If the borough still requires properties for use as temporary accommodation at the end of your lease, and provided your property is still tenanted at the end of the lease, we will renew the lease, provided the property has no major defects.
Do I have to carry out any repairs?
Under the terms of the lease there are some repairs which remain the landlord’s responsibility. Details can be found in the lease agreement. In some instances London Strategic Housing PSL can carry out the repair on the landlord’s behalf. The cost of these will be deducted from the monthly rent together with a 15% management fee.
Do I pay for an initial inspection of the property?
London Strategic Housing PSL carries out inspections FREE of charge.
Who are the tenants?
Tenants are individuals or families nominated for temporary accommodation by a local authority because of a lack of immediately available, suitable permanent housing.
Do I have a say in who the tenants are?
The families which are placed in our properties are vetted by the local authority. As a result you do not have a say in who the tenants are.
Can I evict tenants from my property?
London Strategic Housing PSL is responsible for any evictions.
Can I contact the tenants myself?
We do not encourage landlords to contact the tenant directly. All communication will be handled via London Strategic Housing PSL.
Who do tenants contact about repairs?
Tenants will contact London Strategic Housing to report any repairs.
London Strategic Housing Limited